Vehicle locking circuit

ABSTRACT

A circuit is disclosed for locking and unlocking the brakes, ignition and hood of a vehicle so as to secure it from theft. A key-operated master switch is effective in its plurality of positions to: (a) open the ignition-power source circuit; (b) energize a circuit to unlock a normally closed hood lock; (c) energize a circuit which effects the opening and closing of brake locks; and (d) open all electrical circuits of the vehicle. The ignition of the vehicle is connected to the power source via the master switch and is energized only when that switch is in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;ignition on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position. When the master switch is in the brake locking and unlocking position, a secondary switch effects selective actuation of a motor; when the secondary switch is in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;brake lock&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position, a half stroke of the motor closes brake locks, and in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;brake unlock&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position, the completed stroke of the motor opens the brake locks. The hood lock, being normally closed, is opened when the master switch is in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;hood unlock&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position due to the energization of the hood unlock circuit. In the remaining master switch position, the power source is isolated from all electrical circuits of the vehicle, ensuring that the ignition, hood and brakes all remain locked during the absence of the owner or user from the vehicle.

D United States Patent [151 3,656,5M Edwards [451 Apr. 18, I972 54]VEHICLE LOCKING CIRCUIT 57 ABSTRACT [72] Inventor: Joseph Edwards, 8822Fourth Avenue, A circuit is disclosed for locking and unlocking thebrakes, ig- North Bergen, NJ. 07047 nition and hood of a vehicle so asto secure it from theft. A key-operated master switch is effective inits plurality of posi- [22] July 1970 tions to: (a) open theignition-power source circuit; (b) ener- [21] Appl. No.: 54,153 gize acircuit to unlock a normally closed hood lock; (c) energize a circuitwhich efiects the opening and closing of brake locks; and ((1) open allelectrical circuits of the vehicle. The [52] U.S. Cl "HO/1P1:6 ignitionofthe vehicle is connected to the power Source via the [51] i 158/265master switch and is energized only when that switch is in the [58]F'eld of 303/89 ignition on" position. When the master switch is in thebrake locking and unlocking position, a secondary switch effects R fCted selective actuation of a motor; when the secondary switch is in[56] e erences I the brake lock position, a half stroke of the motorcloses p TENT brake locks, and in the brake unlock position, the UNITEDSTATES A 5 completed stroke of the motor opens the brake locks. The3,559,755 2/1971 Pond v X hood lock, being normally closed, is openedwhen the master 1,843,966 2/1932 f X switch is in the hood unlockposition due to the energization 2,819,770 1 3 Glbbs --180/114 of thehood unlock circuit. In the remaining master switch 2,990,903 1961Stmgelet position, the power source is isolated from all electrical cir-Hayes uits of the vehicle ensuring that the ignition hood and PrimaryExaminerl(enneth H. Betts Attorney-James and Franklin brakes all remainlocked during the absence of the owner or user from the vehicle.

12 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure M65715? CYL 01/052 VEHICLE LOCKING CIRCUITThe present invention relates to a circuit for locking and unlocking thebrakes, ignition and hood of a vehicle such as an automobile, bus ortruck.

There have been many attempts in the prior art to secure vehicles fromtheft. Brake locks are by no means new. However, standing alone, theyare rather inadequate, since, if a thief can break into the car and gainaccess to the engine by opening the hood, he can cut the brake lines ordisassemble the brake locks, and then jump" the ignition to start thecar and drive away. it is evident that access to the engine area cansubstantially negate all protection afforded by brake locks. It isfurther evident that if a would be thief obtains the ignition key bysome means, little security from the conventional brake locks can beexpected, since in a very short period he could figure out how to lockand unlock the brakes and thendrive away. Accordingly, the presentinvention provides a circuit which can render the ignition, hood andbrakes all locked at a given time. The key-operated master switch whenswitched to its various positions, locks the above mentioned elements,and in one position opens all circuits leading to the power source,thereby ensuring that these elements, once locked, remain locked.

Restricted access to the engine compartment bars tampering with theelectrical system, hence making a jump" of the ignition a very difficulttask for even very skilled thieves. Even if the ignition key is somehowobtained from an owner or user,

the automobile employing this circuit is still relatively theftproof,since the ignition key alone is virtually useless. lt alone, can neitherconnect the ignition to the power source so as to start the car, noropen the hood lock nor unlock the brakes. On the other hand, if themaster switch key only is obtained, the ignition must still be jumped"to start the car, thereby rendering the vehicle secure at least fromthose without sufficient knowledge for this operation. Without eitherkey, even if an auto employing this circuit is broken into, and even ifthe thief is possessed of sufficient mechanical skills to bypass theignition, the circuit of the instant invention still renders the vehiclerelatively theft-proof.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide a circuit whichlocks and unlocks the brakes, ignition and hood of a vehicle, therebyrendering the vehicle substantially theftproof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a circuit tolock and unlock the ignition, brakes and hood of the vehicle, which iskey-operated by a key other than the ignition key.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a circuit tolock and unlock the ignition, brakes and hood of the vehicle which isoperable at a location conveniently accessible to the driver.

To these ends, a key-operated master switch has a plurality of positionswhich lock and unlock the ignition, brake locks, and a hood lock of avehicle, and which has a last position which opens all electricalcircuits connected to the power source.

The master switch is in series with the ignition and the battery andunless that switch is in a first or ignition on" position, there canwindshield no current through the ignition.

A second position of the master switch energizes a line having asecondary switch therein. In a first position of the secondary switch, amotor, such as a windshield wiper motor, is moved through a half-strokeclosing conventional brake locks. In a second position of the secondaryswitch, the completed stroke of the motor opens the brake locks. In eachposition, when the motor is near the end of its half-stroke, the brakesare locked or unlocked and cut-off switches are tripped, therebybreaking the electrical circuit to the motor, such that the brakes canremain in their locked or unlocked condition, as the case may be.

A third position of the master switch energizes a circuit containing asolenoid, causing the-normally closed hood lock to open. A cut-0E switchthen breaks that circuit which remains deenergized until the masterswitch is again moved to its third position. Upon closing the hood, thehood lock is closed, thus securing the engine compartment.

A fourth position of the master switch opens all circuits to thebattery, including the vehicle accessory circuits, thereby permittingthe locking devices, once locked, to remain locked, and leaving a deadignition.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a circuit to lockand unlock the brakes, ignition and hood of a vehicle, as defined in theappended claims, and as defined in the specification, taken togetherwith the accompanying drawmg. I

In the drawing, a single schematic view of the circuit is shownincluding the master switch, secondary switch, and ignition, and theirrespective connections to the battery, brakes and hood lock.

The circuit of the present invention is shown associated with elementssuch as a battery 12, hood lock 14, master hydraulic cylinder 16, andbrakes 17, which are common to ordinary passenger vehicles; however, thecircuit can be used with trucks and buses as well. Its application isnot restricted to any particular manufacture, model or year vehicle, andthe specific placement of the various elements, such as the mastercylinder 16, does not limit its usefulness. Further, a vehicle, new offthe assembly line, can be equipped with the circuit as originalequipment, or those vehicles now on the roads can readily andinexpensively be adapted to employ it.

The master switch 18 is operated by key 20 between four switchpositions, A, B, C, and D. As will be shown, the positions A, B and D,all complete sub-circuits, whereas the position C isolates the battery12 from all electrical elements, including the engine and accessories.22, of the vehicle. The master switch 18 may be conveniently mounted onthe dash panel (not shown) of the vehicle within easy reach of thedriver, and for reasons of security, its key 20 should be different thanthat used for the ignition 24. The various electrical lines from themaster switch 18, extend into the engine compartment and may be passedthrough any convenient opening in the fire wall, such as a factorysupplied knock-out, or a specially drilled hole.

When the key 20 is switched to position A, the standard electricalcircuits to the ignition 24 and engine and accessories 22 are connectedto the battery 12. Unless the switch is in position A, there can be nopower to either the engine or accessories 12. Actual relative placementof the ignition with respect to the master switch 12 is unimportant aslong as they are in series with each other. As previously mentioned, themaster switch key 20 should be different from the ignition key, so thata thief who somehow obtains only the ignition key, is unable to startthe car as there is no battery l2-ignition 24 connection unless switch18 is in position A. Similarly, the master switch key 20 alone isincapable of starting the car, so that unless both keys are obtained, athief would have to jump" the dead" ignition 24, and the master switch12 to start the car.

Jumping or bypassing the ignition 24 and master switch 18 isaccomplished by making a direct connection between the engine 22 andbattery 12. However, such a by-pass necessitates access to the enginecompartment, which, in turn, means the hood (not shown) must be opened.For automobiles not provided with hood locks, this is an extremelysimple task, since once access to the passenger compartment is obtained,one need merely activate the cable, lever or like device which opens thehood. In fact, many older cars do not even provide this minimalsecurity, and can be opened by merely tripping a lever accessible in thegrill area. On the other hand, many new and late model automobiles areprovided with individual, key-operated hood locks. While these doprovide some measure of protection, a skillful thief might successfullypick such a lock. Accordingly, a hood lock 14, of a type known in theart, is included in the circuit 10, which lock holds the hood locked atall times unless the driver deliberately unlocks it. When the hood isclosed the hood lock 14 is tripped, thereby locking the hood.Significantly, that hood lock is accessible only from within the enginecompartment, and therefore is immune from tampering. From time to time,a driver may wish to open the hood. Therefore, the hood lock 14 isprovided with a solenoid 26 which, when energized, unlocks the lock 14.That solenoid 26 is connected to the terminal D on the master switch 18,and its other end is connected through cut-off switch 28 to the negativeterminal of battery 12. To open the hood lock 14, the key 20 is switchedto position D, thus connecting the positive terminal of battery 12 tothe solenoid 26. Current passing through the solenoid 26 activates it,thus opening the hood lock 14. The cut-off switch 28 is included in thissubcircuit to break it once the hood lock 14 is opened. This ensuresthat sub-circuit is not needlessly continuously energized, thusconserving the energy of the battery 12. To secure the hood, it ismerely closed in the standard way, and the hood lock 14 is automaticallytripped and locked. Thus, it is only necessary to switch key 20 toposition D when it is desired to open the hood, but without the key 20,a would be thief is virtually barred from access to the enginecompartment and will be unable to perform the by-pass necessary to startthe car.

To prevent an unattended car from being towed, conventional brake locks30 may be provided to lock the front and/or rear brakes 17. The brakelocks 30 are placed within the brake lines 32 between the mastercylinder 16 and the brakes l7. Specifically, representative brake locks30 comprise a valve and piston-like member in the brake lines 32; whenthe brake pedal is depressed, the brake lines 32 become pressurizedafter which the piston member closes the valve, maintaining the pressurein the brake lines and thus locking the brakes. The brake locks 17 areincorporated into circuit by means of the motor 34 which can be aconventional windshield wiper motor or any adequate substitute therefor.Upon energizing the motor 34 (as hereinafter described), the motor onits first half-stroke, by means of arms 36 and 38, drives arm 40downwardly. Since the arm 40 is connected to the pistons of the brakelocks 17, they are urged by ann 40 to close the valves. Similarly, onthe completed half stroke of motor 34, the arm 40 lifts the pistons fromthe valves, thereby opening the brake lines 32 and unlocking the brakes17.

Controlled motion of the motor 34 is provided by the combination of thesecondary, or brake control switches 42, 44 located on the brake controlbox 46 (which can be conveniently located on the dash panel), and thelimit or cut-off switches 48, 50. Upon moving key to position B on themaster switch 18, the line leading to the brake control box 46 isenergized. Depression of the on" push-button 42 permits current to passthrough cut-off switch 48 into motor 34, and to ground 52 (and hence tothe negative terminal of battery 12). During the passage of current, thearm 40 moves downward until the pistons close the valves so as tomaintain the pressure in the brake lines 32. Concurrently, the arm 40strikes the on" cut-off switch 48 which opens the circuit to the motor34, so that arm 40 remains in its lowermost, or brake locking position.Unlocking the brakes 17 is performed by a similar operation; with thekey 20 still in position B, depression of the off push-button 44completes a circuit through off" cut-01f switch 50 to motor 34. Themotor 34, thus energized, rotates through its completed stroke andraises the arm 40, thereby removing the pistons vrom the valves, andconsequently unlocking the brakes l7. Concurrent with the half-stroke ofmotor 34 the arm 40 strikes the off cut-off switch 50 which breaks thecircuit to motor 34, so that the arm 40 remains in its highest position,and the brakes 17 remain unlocked.

Position C on master switch 18 completes no circuit at all, in fact, asnoted in the drawing, in this position the positive terminal of battery12 is entirely disconnected from all electrical systems of the vehicle.In this position, the hood lock 14 and brake locks 30, once locked,remain locked, and the ignition 24 is deenergized thus securing the autofrom theft.

While the necessary manipulations to unlock the vehicle for use arerather simple, one (such as a thief), not familiar therewith, might begreatly delayed in his misdeed. The correct order of manipulation forthe educated user is as follows: (a) switch off the ignition; (b) switchkey 20 from position A to position B; (c) pump up the brake pedal topressurize the brake lines 32; (d) push the on" button 42, therebylocking the brakes; and (e) switch the key 20 to position C to break allelectrical circuits and maintain all locks in locked condition. Itshould be evident that even if a thief manages to start the car, unlesshe knows how to unlock the brakes 17 he cannot drive it away. Unlockingthe brakes is effected by depressing the ofi button 44 after the key 20is switched from position C to position B. Then upon switching key 20 toposition A, the car may be started and driven away. The on and offpushbuttons 48 and 50 can be color coded so as to supply as littleinformation as possible to intruders. As noted, the hood lock 14 can beopened at the pressure of the driver by merely switching key 20 toposition D.

It is seen that the circuit 10 greatly increases the security ofunattended vehicles. A dead ignition, locked brakes and hood, incombination with existing security measures, such as door, steeringwheel and gas tank locks, can render the properly equipped vehiclealmost immune from the efforts of even the most skillful thief.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention is hereindisclosed, it will be evident that many variations may be made in thedetails thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. For use in a vehicle comprising brakes, an engine compartment and ahood enclosing said engine compartment, an anti-theft system comprisinga power source, brake locking means operatively connected to said brakesand effective when actuated to lock said brakes, means connected to saidbrake locking means and effective when energized by said power source todeactuate said brake locking means, thereby to unlock said brakes, hoodlocking means operatively connected to said hood and effective whenactuated to lock said hood, means operatively connected to said hoodlocking means and effective when energized by said power source todeactuate said hood locking means, thereby to unlock said hood, andmaster switch means operatively connected to said power source andhaving a first position energizing said brake lock deactuating means, asecond position energizing said hood lock deactuating means, and a thirdposition energizing neither said brake lock deactuating means nor saidhood lock deactuating means.

2. The anti-theft system of claim 1, wherein said master switch means iskey operated.

3. The anti-theft system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises anignition means, said master switch means being interposed between saidpower source and said ignition means.

4. The anti-theft system of claim 3, wherein said master switch means iskey operated.

5. The anti-theft system of claim 3, wherein said master switch meanshas a fourth position which connects said ignition means to said powersource.

6. The anti-theft system of claim 5, wherein said master switch means iskey operated.

7. The anti-theft system of claim 5, further comprising secondary switchmeans interposed between said master switch means and said brake lockdeactuating means and effective in a first position to connect saidbrake lock deactuating means to said master switch means and in a secondposition to disconnect said brake lock deactuating means from saidmaster switch means.

8. The anti-theft system of claim 7, wherein said master switch means iskey operated.

9. The anti-theft system of claim 1, further comprising secondary switchmeans interposed between said master switch means and said brake lockdeactuating means and effective in a first position to connect saidbrake lock deactuating means to said master switch means and in a secondposiin response to the opening of said hood, to de-energize said hoodlock deactuating means.

12. The anti-theft system of claim 11, wherein said hood locking meansis automatically actuated in response to the closing of said hood.

1. For use in a vehicle comprising brakes, an engine compartment and ahood enclosing said engine compartment, an anti-theft system comprisinga power source, brake locking means operatively connected to said brakesand effective when actuated to lock said brakes, means connected to saidbrake locking means and effective when energized by said power source todeactuate said brake locking means, thereby to unlock said brakes, hoodlocking means operatively connected to said hood and effective whenactuated to lock said hood, means operatively connected to said hoodlocking means and effective when energized by said power source todeactuate said hood locking means, thereby to unlock said hood, andmaster switch means operatively connected to said power source andhaving a first position energizing said brake lock deactuating means, asecond position energizing said hood lock deactuating means, and a thirdposition energizing neither said brake lock deactuating means nor saidhood lock deactuating means.
 2. The anti-theft system of claim 1,wherein said master switch means is key operated.
 3. The anti-theftsystem of claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises an ignition means,said master switch means being interposed between said power source andsaid ignition means.
 4. The anti-theft system of claim 3, wherein saidmaster switch means is key operated.
 5. The anti-theft system of claim3, wherein said master switch means has a fourth position which connectssaid ignition means to said power source.
 6. The anti-theft system ofclaim 5, wherein said master switch means is key operated.
 7. Theanti-theft system of claim 5, further comprising secondary switch meansinterposed between said master switch means and said brake lockdeactuating means and effective in a first position to connect saidbrake lock deactuating means to said master switch means and in a secondposition to disconnect said brake lock deactuating means from saidmaster switch means.
 8. The anti-theft system of claim 7, wherein saidmaster switch means is key operated.
 9. The anti-theft system of claim1, further comprising secondary switch means interposed between saidmaster switch means and said brake lock deactuating means and effectivein a first position to connect said brake lock deactuating means to saidmaster switch means and in a second position to disconnect said brakelock deactuating means from said master switch means.
 10. The anti-theftsystem of claim 9, wherein said master switch means is key operated. 11.The anti-theft system of claim 1, further comprising cut off switchmeans operatively connected between said hood lock deactuating means andsaid power source and effective, in response to the opening of saidhood, to de-energize said hood lock deactuating means.
 12. Theanti-theft system of claim 11, wherein said hood locking means isautomatically actuated in response to the closing of said hood.